Social work training should not be split into separate adult and
children's specialisms, according to the chair of the Social Work
Taskforce.
Moira Gibb told the Adass spring seminar that further separation
of adults' and children's work would fragment the profession. She
also opposed early specialisation in social work training as
recommended for children's social workers by Lord Laming's recent
review.
Gibb said that, although some children's directors were in
favour of splitting training, a "longer view" was needed.
Specialism too early
"Lord Laming's report called for specialism in the degree after
one year. I think that may be too early," she told adults'
directors.
Gibb was also keen to emphasise the wide remit of the taskforce,
despite it having certain tasks around children's services such as
examining IT systems. "It is not the Baby P taskforce, it is about
Regional events need more input
But she was concerned that social workers from adults' services
were not well represented at the taskforce's regional events and
said she wanted more input from them.
Gibb also defended the role of The Sun agony aunt
Deidre Sanders on the taskforce. "Deidre is a fantastic asset
around the image of social work," she said. "She sees the positive
stories and says we must get those stories out there."